Transcripts For BBCNEWS Coronavirus Update 20210126

Those aged over 80 have had their first dose of the vaccine. Letters are being sent to those aged 70 79. The government prepares to announce whether it will impose Hotel Quarantine restrictions for those arriving back in england. Ministers say school also be prioritised when lockdown restrictions are lifted after mps called for a road map for their re opening. Welcome to viewers on bbc one a the news channel ahead the latest downing street news briefing. It is led today by the Prime Minister borisjohnson and he will be joined by englands chief medical officer professor chris whitty and the chief executive Sir Simon Stevens it comes after number of people who die with robbin after number of people who die with robb in the uk passes 100,000, another grim milestone in this demme mick, according to the figures for the office for National Statistics, almost 104,000 people have died since the pandemic began. The figures go up to the 15th january, and they are based on death certificate, the governments daily figures which rely on positive covid tests results within 28 days prior are also feared to exceed 100,000 when they are published any time now. Additionalfigures when they are published any time now. Additional figures from from the ons now. Additional figures from from the 0ns show that more than 30,000 care home residents in england and wales have died with covid 19, that accounts for almost a third of the total number of coronavirus deaths in england and wales. The figures leave the uk with one of the highest covid death rates in the world, and meanwhile the governments insisted it is confident there be no disruption to the vaccination roll out, in spite fossil fuel a row with the European Union over access to supplies of both the astrazeneca and the Pfizer Biontech jab, our Health Correspondent has this report. Jonathan ewell is on the long hard recovery. A Front Line Health Care worker he fell ill with covid last year, not just him but members of his close family as well. My just him but members of his close family as well. Just him but members of his close famil as well. G. ,. , family as well. My mum was admitted, m sister family as well. My mum was admitted, my sister was family as well. My mum was admitted, my sister was admitted family as well. My mum was admitted, my sister was admitted to family as well. My mum was admitted, my sister was admitted to antrim my sister was admitted to antrim hospital because craigavon was very very busy, she was admitted to antrim hospital, on afternoon of 20th october and my father was admitted to antrim hospital on the eve nibbling of 20th october. Jonathan ended up in intensive care and on the same ward on which he worked. In the same hospital as his mother he was able to see her, and to be with her when she died. To to be with her when she died. Trr know that mum is not coming home is very hard. We were a very close family and mum was the link. She was always here. And it is a very lonely house, it is a very lonely house, and that loneliness and emptiness is there 24 hours a day. It never leaves you. Jonathans story is one of 100,000 as confirmed by the latest figures from the office for National Statistics. Databased on death certificates where co individual is mentioned shows over 104,000 lives have been lost. It is likely total deaths are much higher as that data is now 11 days old. There is another measure of death, the one we mention on the new, that covers people who died within 28 days of a positive test, is likely to reach 100 thousand later today or tomorrow. For some it is a sign of devastating face your. For some it is a sign of devastating face our. ,. , for some it is a sign of devastating face our. ,. ,. , � face your. Generally we havent responded face your. Generally we havent responded to face your. Generally we havent responded to the face your. Generally we havent responded to the warnings face your. Generally we havent responded to the warnings as l face your. Generally we havent responded to the warnings as quickly enough, remember early on in the pandemic, the government hesitated in terms of what they household do in terms of what they household do in terms of lockdown. They didnt do that quickly enough and whenever we made progress in the lockdown, they quickly came out, so they werent decisive enough. The quickly came out, so they werent decisive enough. Quickly came out, so they werent decisive enough. The past year has tau~ht us decisive enough. The past year has taught us some decisive enough. The past year has taught us some 0 decisive enough. The past year has taught us some 0 more decisive enough. The past year has taught us some 0 more vulnerable| decisive enough. The past year has l taught us some 0 more vulnerable to taught us some o more vulnerable to the virus than other, more deprived communities have seen a higher death toll as have people from a black asian and minority back ground. Mohamad died from covid last month. From his daughter suzannah a reminder each death is a terrible loss. , w. , reminder each death is a terrible loss. ,. ,. ,. , loss. For each of us the trauma, the u set, loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset. The loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset. The loss. Loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset, the loss, is loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset, the loss, is great loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset, the loss, is great and loss. For each of us the trauma, the upset, the loss, is great and please| upset, the loss, is great and please dontjust upset, the loss, is great and please dont just see upset, the loss, is great and please dontjust see it upset, the loss, is great and please dont just see it as upset, the loss, is great and please dontjust see it as a figure, it is a number, it is somebody� s husband, somebody� s father, somebody� s brother, and we need to remember that each time the statistics are increasing. That each time the statistics are increasing that each time the statistics are increasinr. � ,. , , increasing. Beyond the deaths caused b the virus increasing. Beyond the deaths caused by the virus itself increasing. Beyond the deaths caused by the virus itself there increasing. Beyond the deaths caused by the virus itself there are increasing. Beyond the deaths caused by the virus itself there are those by the virus itself there are those lives lost through delayed treatments or missed symptom, today is a fresh reminder of the immense toll taken by the virus. An immense hole. Let us talk to ruby anne 0ats whose sister died of covid in november at the same hospital her son works in and where she used to work as an Emergency Department assistant. Thank you so much indeed for being with us and many condolences for your loss, just tell us what happened to her, because she had been, she had had a kidney transplant hadnt she she had been, she had had a kidney transplant hadnt she transplant hadnt she she has a kidney transplant transplant hadnt she she has a i kidney transplant twoandahalf kidney transplant two and a half years ago, and so she was, immune system was vulnerable, she broke her leg, in august, and she was in Queens Medical Centre for two months, and they kept her secure all the while, which was great. We couldnt see her, of course, and that was very difficult. She was then transferred to a rehabilitation unit, and we think that is where she caught the virus. Because we were told that Covid Patients were actually being brought in, on a day she was supposed the leave and go home, she was told she was covid positive, and it was heartbreaking, she realised how vulnerable she was because of the kidney transplant, and it was just devastating for us all, because basically, we knew that this was a death sentences for her, she then returned to Queens Medical Centre, and she was in the high dependency unit for about a week. And then she was in end of life care, and the staff were absolutely wonderful, her children were only able to spend one hour with her, about six hours before she died, and i wasnt able to be with her, we were close as sister, 11 months between us, it was devastating for us all including her young grandchildren who have cried and so on, so yes, we were very disappointed that after all the battles she has had, going through dialysis, a kidney transplant, and so on, that this virus took her in the end. � ,. , so on, that this virus took her in the end. � ,. , � , so on, that this virus took her in theend. �. , � , the end. And you havent been able to have a funeral the end. And you havent been able to have a funeral for the end. And you havent been able to have a funeral for her the end. And you havent been able to have a funeral for her yet, the end. And you havent been able to have a funeral for her yet, is to have a funeral for her yet, is that right . To have a funeral for her yet, is that right . No, we have not, we chose not that right . No, we have not, we chose not to. That right . No, we have not, we chose not to, because that right . No, we have not, we chose not to, because we that right . No, we have not, we chose not to, because we did i that right . No, we have not, we| chose not to, because we did not want to put others at risk. No. So we will have a celebration of her life, she worked in the Emergency Department, herson life, she worked in the Emergency Department, her son was actually and daughter in law were on covid wards, and even though they were in her bubble, they ensured she was safe, so throughout the whole of the lockdown, she was safe, it wasnt until she went into a rehabilitation centre, for to recover from until she went into a rehabilitation centre, for to recoverfrom her leg break, that she became ill and caught covid. Which was devastating. And she was 68, and she had worked in that same hospital, in fact . She died in the in that same hospital, in fact . Sue died in the hospital, in that same hospital, in fact . Sie died in the hospital, where in that same hospital, in fact . Sie died in the hospital, where she worked in the Emergency Department, yes. She, she did, and herson and daughter in law both work, are nurses both working in the same hospital and have been doing so, on currently on covid wards except her son who found it too much to go back, so hes had some time out, he will return, as a senior nurse to the hospital soon. find will return, as a senior nurse to the hospital soon. Will return, as a senior nurse to the hospital soon. And what would ou sa , the hospital soon. And what would you say. Then. The hospital soon. And what would you say. Then. To the hospital soon. And what would you say, then, to anyone the hospital soon. And what would you say, then, to anyone who the hospital soon. And what would i you say, then, to anyone who doesnt feel like they want to comply with the governments restrictions at the moment, and doesnt want to get a vaccination . I moment, and doesnt want to get a vaccination . Vaccination . I think. Theres so much on vaccination . I think. Theres so much on social vaccination . I think. Theres so much on social media vaccination . I think. Theres so much on social media about vaccination . I think. Theres so much on social media about nonsense, theres a narrative also that i feel has developed about the people are worthless because they might be vulnerable or older, theres a prioritisation sometimes about the economy, well, economies can be rebuild but lives cant. 0nce someone dies they are dead and people do not realise how virulent this virus is. And how damaging, and heartbreak it is, for the whole of the family, this includes young children, who are seeing their parents and grandparents die very suddenly, so people die, often in situations that are tragic. Yeah. Ruby, thank you so much for being with us and our condolences to you, a very distressing time for you and yourfamily, but thank a very distressing time for you and your family, but thank you for talking to us and sharing your thoughts and memories with us. Youre welcome, thank you. The number of care home residents in england and wales to have covid 19 recorded on their death certificate has figures show there were 1,719 deaths involving coronavirus among care home residents either dying in homes or residents who died in hospitals in the week of 15th january. Thats the highest weekly number since 21st may. 0ur social affairs correspondent, alison holt is here. Alison, the tragedy is that people are still dying in large numbers in care homes. Are still dying in large numbers in care homes are still dying in large numbers in care homes. , , care homes. Yes, these figures will cause a lot care homes. Yes, these figures will cause a lot of care homes. Yes, these figures will cause a lot of distress, care homes. Yes, these figures will cause a lot of distress, because cause a lot of distress, because behind each figure, as we have heard so powerfully, is the heartache that goes with the family that is perhaps not able to be there at the end for someone, certainly in care homes, thatis someone, certainly in care homes, that is a major factor, because someone, certainly in care homes, that is a majorfactor, because many families havent been able the see their loved ones for weeks or months, depending on the circumstances. 0verall, months, depending on the circumstances. Overall, a third of covid related deaths, since the start of the pandemic, are among care home residents, now the majority of those so far were in the first wave of the pandemic, when they were really hard hit. We are obviously not through the second wave yet. But the numbers of deaths we are seeing are high, but they are not quite at the same levels as they were at the peak, back in april. And if you look at last week alone, deaths of care home residents account for about 25 of covid related deaths, so lightly lower than that overall figure but distressing the other way of locking at it is how many deaths would you expect in a normal, in that week, during a normal year . And the number of deaths of care home residents from all causes, are up byjust under 15 for the week up to january 15th, in england and wales. Now that compares with deaths among the general population which are up by just over a quarter, compared with what you would normally expect, so while deaths are high, there is some suggestion that some of the Protection Measures are having an effect, not least vaccinations. Yeah, and you talk about the Vaccination Programme, but there are, there is other work, isnt there in care homes to try to protect people there . There in care homes to try to protect people there . Yes. Obviously care homes are protect people there . Yes. Obviously care homes are in protect people there . Yes. Obviously care homes are in the protect people there . Yes. Obviously care homes are in the community, i care homes are in the community, staff go in and out, they have obviously been taking, doing a lot to try and protect residents. We have staff testing now, there is also there are restrictions an movement of staff between homes, you have the vaccination ppe is available, or is there now, at the very start of the pandemic that was a struggle for many care homes, so those protections are in place. And the hope is in the end, when all of this, that it will have had a positive impacts on protecting residents, in addition the that today we have the start of a trial which is looking at commonly used drugs that might be be able to help protect care home residents, it is called the protect trial they are trying to recruit 400 plus care homes so they can do a proper trial to look at what works and what doesnt and the thinking is that while vaccines are important and play a vital role, that as the virus mutates we will need other ways of supporting and helping and protecting people in care homes. Thank you very much and while we were talking to alison we have had confirmation that the death toll in the uk from coronavirus, according to the governments figures has exceeded 100,000, that very grim milestone that we had been expecting, so let me just give you the figures in the last 24 hours, within 28 days of a positive test, thatis within 28 days of a positive test, that is 161631 so brings the total to 116200. Nickjoins me, as we say a very grim milestone and we will hearfrom the Prime Minister a very grim milestone and we will hear from the Prime Minister about this in a very, injust a hear from the Prime Minister about this in a very, in just a few minutes time from downing street. Yes, that is the main thing Boris Johnson will want to address, in the press conference, ben, we have got used to the figures we put them out every day but this is another reminder of the human toll, that the past ten months of the virus have had, ijust want past ten months of the virus have had, i just want to past ten months of the virus have had, ijust want to bring you something that has come in from the Health Secretary matt hancock who says i know how hard the last year has been but i also know how strong the british public� s determination is and how much we have all pulled together, to get through this. Clearly, this is another really difficult day as part of the pandemic, it is only ten months since sir Patrick Vallance the chief scientific adviser saying it would be a good outcome for the uk to have 20,000 deaths from this virus. We are now at the point where 100,000 people have been confirmed dead 28 days or less after having a positive covid test. Clearly things have got considerably worse than they were when sir Patrick Vallance made that grim comment last march. The different now i suppose is we know the vaccine is being rolled out. The government is pleased with the way thatis government is pleased with the way that is going and hopes that gives light at the end of the tunnel but there is another day in the pandemic. A dark day that will no doubt prompt many to ask why the uk figure is so high. There will be questions once again i suppose about the government, and i think going right back to last year, was it too slow to lock down . And on the demographic figures, the statistics in this country, whether there are underlying factors about this country that mean that death toll is so high. Country that mean that death toll is so hirh. I, � , country that mean that death toll is sohirh. , , so high. Thats right, because these firures so high. Thats right, because these fi. Ures do so high. Thats right, because these figures do mean so high. Thats right, because these figures do mean that, so high. Thats right, because these figures do mean that, when so high. Thats right, because these figures do mean that, when you figures do mean that, when you compare it to the population, the uk has one of the highest death rates in the world. There will be those who turn around and say, look, its probably too early to make any firm comparisons, that Different Countries recorded deaths in different ways, but there is no disputing the fact that the uks death rate is amongst the highest in the world, and i suspect Boris Johnson will continue to face questions over why exactly that has happened, and we know that he has faced criticism from political opponents sometimes for not being decisive enough, for not taking action as quickly as some people would have liked to have seen it, when it came to things like lockdown. We are of course in the third lockdown in england now but the government has faced questions over the speed at which it has reached some of those decisions to tell people not to go out of the house. I suspect we will hear more of them over the next few days as well but i suspect the government will also want to point to the vaccine and say, look, for all these terrible figures that we see on a daily basis now, that we are seeing again today with that 100,000 milestone, there is a way out this pandemic, the government thinks, with the vaccine roll out, which for all the grim figures we are used to also shows some pretty positive figures. More than 6. 5 Million People in the uk have now received the first dose of one of the vaccines. 0n the first dose of one of the vaccines. On some days that figure is reaching nearly 500,000 people being given a first dose of the vaccine, so the government will point to that as a potential way out, but there is no disguising these figures, then. They are tough and they show a pretty grim point in the pandemic for the uk. The pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick. The pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick thank the pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick. Thank you the pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick. Thank you very the pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick. Thank you very much the pandemic for the uk. Indeed, | nick. Thank you very much indeed. The pandemic for the uk. Indeed, nick. Thank you very much indeed. We have actually just had nick. Thank you very much indeed. We have actuallyjust had some reaction to those figures from the labour leader sir keir starmer. It is to those figures from the labour leader sir keir starmer. Leader sir keir starmer. It is a national tragedy. Leader sir keir starmer. It is a national tragedy. This leader sir keir starmer. It is a national tragedy. This is leader sir keir starmer. It is a national tragedy. This is a leader sir keir starmer. It is a national tragedy. This is a marker that nobody wanted to hit. That number that nobody wanted to hit. That number of 100,000 that nobody wanted to hit. That number of100,000 is that nobody wanted to hit. That number of 100,000 is twice the number of100,000 is twice the number number of 100,000 is twice the number we lost number of 100,000 is twice the numberwe lost in number of 100,000 is twice the number we lost in the blitz and it is the number we lost in the blitz and it is the size number we lost in the blitz and it is the size of, you know, small towns is the size of, you know, small towns across the united kingdom. Bath or towns across the united kingdom. Bath or stevenage. So it is a real nationai bath or stevenage. So it is a Real National tragedy. And behind the statistics, national tragedy. And behind the statistics, behind the numbers, we have to statistics, behind the numbers, we have to remember there is always a grieving have to remember there is always a grieving family, a mum, dad, brother, grieving family, a mum, dad, brother, sister, friend, neighbour or partner, brother, sister, friend, neighbour or partner, so our hearts go out to everyone or partner, so our hearts go out to everyone affected as we reach this awful everyone affected as we reach this awful milestone. Awful milestone. Reaction ust in there from i awful milestone. Reaction ust in there from the i awful milestone. Reaction ust in there from the labour awful milestone. Reaction just in there from the labour leader awful milestone. Reaction just in there from the labour leader su | awful milestone. Reaction just in there from the labour leader su keir starmer. We have been hearing more than 100,000 people have died with covid 19 across the uk according to the latest government figures just out in the last few minutes sir keir starmer. Huge number, very hard to visualise of course, but to put it into some context we can look back to march last year when the governments chief scientific adviser sir Patrick Vallance told nps that if the final death toll could be limited to 20,000 or below mps. That, he said, would be a good outcome. Every year in seasonal flu the number of deaths is thought to be about 8,000 excess deaths, so if we can get this down to numbers 20,000 and below thats a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak, but i mean its still horrible. So that was sir Patrick Vallance backin so that was sir Patrick Vallance back in march, and of course now the death toll is five times that, more than 100,000. And the number of deaths in the uk is the highest in europe and one of the highest in the world. Letsjust europe and one of the highest in the world. Lets just take a look at how the uk compares in terms of the number of people who have died to other countries. The uk is currently the country with a fifth highest number of coronavirus related deaths. The United States tops the list, with 417,289 deaths. New us President Joe Biden has said he expects the us will soon be able to vaccinate 1. 5 Million People a day, as part of its efforts to fight the virus this year. Second on that list is brazil, which has recorded 217,037 deaths. The country has struggled with oxygen shortages, among many things, during a deadly second wave of infections. A little further down the list, france where cases continue to climb despite strict restrictions including a curfew has reported 73,049 covid related deaths. Finally, lets take a look right down towards the bottom of the list, at the other end of the scale new zealand has reported just 25 deaths after a coronavirus diagnosis. The country has had a strict policy of border controls and locked down very heavily at the start of the pandemic last year but has just reported its first case of covid 19 outside of a quarantine facility in more than two months. Lets talk through some of these statistics and numbers. With david spiegelhalter, professor of statistics at cambridge university. Thanks for being with us on bbc news. How do you see this horrific milestone we have reached over 100,000 deaths . It milestone we have reached over 100,000 deaths . It is milestone we have reached over 100,000 deaths . 100,000 deaths . It is an awful barrier to go 100,000 deaths . It is an awful barrier to go through, 100,000 deaths . It is an awful barrier to go through, and 100,000 deaths . It is an awful barrier to go through, and i 100,000 deaths . It is an awful. Barrier to go through, and i have ust barrier to go through, and i have just been barrier to go through, and i have just been looking at the website, and it just been looking at the website, and it came to about five minutes ago and it came to about five minutes ago irn and it came to about five minutes ago. Im afraid im going to give even ago. Im afraid im going to give even worse ago. Im afraid im going to give even worse news because we actually pass that even worse news because we actually pass that barrier some time ago. This is pass that barrier some time ago. This is based on the definition of a covid this is based on the definition of a covid death, that someone needs to have a covid death, that someone needs to have a positive test then die within 28 days have a positive test then die within 28 days but the office for National Statistics release their data this morning statistics release their data this morning which showed that 100,000 people morning which showed that 100,000 people had had covid on their death certificate people had had covid on their death certificate byjanuary the 7th. Nearly certificate byjanuary the 7th. Nearly three weeks ago it was when we actually cross this barrier, which we actually cross this barrier, which is we actually cross this barrier, which is now probably about 120,000, actuaiiy which is now probably about 120,000, actually the which is now probably about 120,000, actually the true total in the uk who had actually the true total in the uk who had covid on their death certificate. Some people say, well, they are certificate. Some people say, well, they are just dying with covid, and that is they are just dying with covid, and that is true, they are just dying with covid, and that is true, perhaps, but only for about that is true, perhaps, but only for about 10 that is true, perhaps, but only for about 10 of people. 90 of those who have about 10 of people. 90 of those who have covid, it is the primary underlying who have covid, it is the primary underlying cause of death. If you want underlying cause of death. If you want another awful statistic, it has been want another awful statistic, it has been estimated that every covid death been estimated that every covid death on been estimated that every covid death on average leads to about nine or ten death on average leads to about nine or ten years death on average leads to about nine or ten years loss of life, so that is about or ten years loss of life, so that is about a or ten years loss of life, so that is about a million years of life iost is about a million years of life lost so is about a million years of life lost so far is about a million years of life lost so far since the start of the pandemic lost so far since the start of the pandemic lost so far since the start of the andemic. , ,. ,. Pandemic. Very, very grim statistic. We were just pandemic. Very, very grim statistic. We were just going pandemic. Very, very grim statistic. We were just going through pandemic. Very, very grim statistic. We were just going through the we were just going through the numbers in terms of international comparisons, and i know it is difficult to give exact reasons, but in your view why is the uk. Why has the uk done so badly . How much is down to policy, government policy on lock is and so on . How much is it demographic factors . What would you say . Demographic factors . What would you sa . �. , demographic factors . What would you sa . �. , demographic factors . What would you sa . ,. , say . Already, your previous speaker soke say . Already, your previous speaker spoke about say . Already, your previous speaker spoke about possible say . Already, your previous speaker spoke about possible ideas say . Already, your previous speaker spoke about possible ideas of say . Already, your previous speaker spoke about possible ideas of not i spoke about possible ideas of not locking spoke about possible ideas of not locking down early enough and so on. What i locking down early enough and so on. What i would point to, though, is that genomic analysis realised that back in that genomic analysis realised that back in march there were over 1000 independent epidemic outbreaks in this country and people coming back largeiy this country and people coming back largely from spain and france in march, largely from spain and france in march, and i thought it might have been march, and i thought it might have been earlier, but it was march when it was been earlier, but it was march when it was reaiiy been earlier, but it was march when it was really exploding over the whole it was really exploding over the whole country simultaneously. That is just whole country simultaneously. That isjust due whole country simultaneously. That isjust due to whole country simultaneously. That is just due to the fact of our travel is just due to the fact of our travel patterns and so on. You could say maybe travel patterns and so on. You could say maybe they should have been more travel say maybe they should have been more travel restrictions. So it is very complex travel restrictions. So it is very complex reasoning for all this. We have complex reasoning for all this. We have groups of ethnic minorities, lots of have groups of ethnic minorities, lots of deprivation, lots of people at multi generational households. We know all at multi generational households. We know all those factors increase the risk of know all those factors increase the risk of both know all those factors increase the risk of both catching the disease and dying risk of both catching the disease and dying from it. As i said, people will be and dying from it. As i said, people will be arguing about this for ages, but i will be arguing about this forages, but i think will be arguing about this for ages, but i think we can conclude, yeah, we have but i think we can conclude, yeah, we have done very badly indeed. Always we have done very badly indeed. Always good to talk to you, verity, professor of statistics at cambridge university. Many thanks professor david. Many thanks professor david spiegelhalter. Joining me now is professor Andrew Hayward from the new and emerging respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group to the government, also known as nervtag. We were just hearing, according to david spiegelhalter, passing at 100,000 figure. A symbolic moment for the whole country, isnt it . I think it is, and it is a tragic and unenviable record really, made all the worse by the fact that the death rates in the first nine areas of the country are twice as high as in the richest areas of the country, and i think whilst there are some demographic factors that may explain this, you know, with crowded and highly internationally connected island at the time conducive to it spreading, i think we really have to take a closer look at how we have reacted to the pandemic. And i think, very often, what we are doing is acting too late to really prevent the deaths and letting the levels of disease get too high before we intervene, which means that we end p intervene, which means that we end up with more deaths, we end up with our lockdown is having to be longer than they would otherwise need to be. That mirror lock downs. Ii are than they would otherwise need to be. That mirror lock downs. If we do look at those be. That mirror lock downs. If we do look at those International Look at those international comparisons, which we havejust look at those international comparisons, which we have just done hour lockdowns. 25 deaths in new zealand. I know that is a very different kind of country, and difficult to compare in some ways, and yet an extraordinary difference in outcome . In outcome . Well, i think thats riaht, in outcome . Well, i think thats right. And in outcome . Well, i think thats right, and once in outcome . Well, i think thats right, and once you in outcome . Well, i think thats right, and once you have in outcome . Well, i think thats| right, and once you have missed in outcome . Well, i think thats right, and once you have missed the boat, if you like, on that ability to keep the virus out of the country, and that may really never have been a risk proposition and youre left with very high levels of disease, what you are left with is trying to control what is there, and i think what weve found is the only thatis i think what weve found is the only that is reliable in doing that is really quite intensive social distancing measures, and weve seen that those work. If it hadnt been for those measures that were taken we would be counting these deaths in the several hundreds of thousands rather than 100,000, so what we have been doing has worked but we have often left it too late so that weve ended up putting out big fires rather than small fires. Brute ended up putting out big fires rather than small fires. We played a cli of sir rather than small fires. We played a clip of sir patrick rather than small fires. We played a clip of sir Patrick Vallance rather than small fires. We played a clip of sir Patrick Vallance back rather than small fires. We played a clip of sir Patrick Vallance back in i clip of sir Patrick Vallance back in march last year when he was saying, you know, a good outcome, if you can put it like that, would have been 20,000 deaths. And now we are at over 100,000. Are you surprised it has got so high in the space of a year . Has got so high in the space of a ear . �. , , ~ year . Im not surprised. I think it was fairly clear year . Im not surprised. I think it was fairly clear from year . Im not surprised. I think it was fairly clear from the year . Im not surprised. I think it was fairly clear from the start year . Im not surprised. I think it| was fairly clear from the start that this infection had the potential to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths in this country without keeping it under control. So, no, im not surprised. I think we also knew that it was likely to be an extremely tough winter. We were warned about that from july. I think often what we are trying to do is protect the economy by treading this line between restrictions and controlling the virus, but actually rather than walking the middle ground people have often been walking on quite a fragile cliff edge, and when you get something unexpected happen like a new variant arriving which just makes it worse, then you can end up in a very, very difficult situation very quickly. Professor Andrew Hayward from the nervtag group, thank you very much indeed for being with us. And the Prime Ministers breathing is a couple of minutes away, but first lets talk to our Health Correspondent. Our Health Correspondent nick triggle is here. Passing that milestone of 100,000. Yes, 1630 deaths reported in the last 24 errors, bringing the total, as you say, to over 100,000. An awful moment for the country, and while that has caused unimaginable loss to families up and down the land. Howeveryou loss to families up and down the land. However you look at it, the uk has one of the worst death tolls from covid, and when you look at the death certificates nine in ten of these deaths are caused by covid. Covid is notjust a contributory factor. The disease has preyed on the vulnerable. Three quarters of deaths have been among the over 755. Just 1 in the under 455. If you look at the chart, we can see the pattern of deaths over the last year. There have been two wave5, really. A sharp rise in the spring. By really. A sharp rise in the spring. Byjune, we had recorded 40,000 deaths. That is probably an underestimate because of the lack of testing in those early days. It took us another five months to reach 50,000 deaths, butjust then another two months to hit the 100,000 figure. Questions will be two months to hit the 100,000 figure. Que5tion5 will be asked. How has this happen . How have we got here, to have one of the worst death toll5 . I think mystic5 have clearly been made. The government has said that. One that is often cited i5 been made. The government has said that. One that is often cited is the delay in locking down. Even the government because my own advisers say we locked down too late. Some people say that just locking say we locked down too late. Some people say thatjust locking down a week earlier would have saved perhaps 20,000 live5. Week earlier would have saved perhaps 20,000 lives. But like the rest of europe, the uk was underprepared for the pandemic. Lack of testing, Contact Tracing system. Of testing, Contact Tracing system of testing, Contact Tracing sstem. , i,. , � system. Partly because we hadnt really experience system. Partly because we hadnt really experience of system. Partly because we hadnt really experience of a system. Partly because we hadnt really experience of a pandemic, i really experience of a pandemic, which Asian Countries did have, so we were sort of new to the whole thing . We were sort of new to the whole thin . ~. , we were sort of new to the whole thin . ,. ,. Thing . Indeed. What is noticeable in a check on how thing . Indeed. What is noticeable in a check on how quickly thing . Indeed. What is noticeable in a check on how quickly borders a check on how quickly border5 clo5ed. They had the Contact Tracing and testing in place, they reacted very quickly. Critic5 and testing in place, they reacted very quickly. Critics say that we were complacent in europe. We allowed the virus to get in, and onceit allowed the virus to get in, and once it got in there were certain underlying factors that meant, tragically, we were going to see a high number of deaths in the ageing population, high rates of obesity, the fact that the uk is a global hub, that we are interconnected with europe. One of the previous speaker 5aid europe. One of the previous speaker said that the virus was brought in over 1000 separate time5 said that the virus was brought in over 1000 separate times between february and march, mainly from italy, spain and france, and then it could spread across the country. It is one of the reasons why the virus really now is endemic in the country and part of the reason why we are struggling so much. We talk about the statistics but david said the real figure we talk about the statistics but david said the realfigure i5 david said the realfigure is probably more like 120,000, because there are different ways of measuring obviously. There are. I mean when measuring obviously. There are. I mean when we measuring obviously. There are. I mean when we look measuring obviously. There are. I mean when we look back measuring obviously. There are. I mean when we look back at measuring obviously. There are. I mean when we look back at the l measuring obviously. There are. I i mean when we look back at the start of the pandemic, when deaths and cases first started to be reported, we had very limited Testing Capacity in place, there was we had very limited Testing Capacity in place, there wa5ju5t we had very limited Testing Capacity in place, there was just capacity to do 3,000 test5 in place, there was just capacity to do 3,000 tests a day, that meant many of the covid deaths were missed in those early days which is why, when you look the office for National Statistics data which relies on death stiffs, the numbers are slightly death certificates. The numbers are higher and suggested we passed the mark a couple of weeks ago. It we passed the mark a couple of weeks aro,. , , we passed the mark a couple of weeks an,. , ,. , we passed the mark a couple of weeks ao. , ,. ,. , we passed the mark a couple of weeks ao. ,. ,. ,. , ago. It has been a very long year since the coronavirus ago. It has been a very long year since the coronavirus first ago. It has been a very long year since the coronavirus first camel ago. It has been a very long year. Since the coronavirus first came to this country, i suppose the hope we talk about all the time is the vaccine roll out, the European Union now talking about potentially restricting supplies from vaccine factories, in europe. How worrying i5 factories, in europe. How worrying is that, do you think, in terms of the supply the uk is going to get . I think the tensions are sign of how fragile supply is. Vaccines are a biological agent so theres, manufacturers say they can develop this many, but theres no guarantees they can. There is also huge global demand, limited raw material, uncono and constraints on manufacturing. The uk has enough vaccine in the country to vaccinate the four highest priority groups the government has said will be offered a vaccine. Not all has been packaged up. That is why ministers say, despite what europe say, say they are confident they can motor that target. I think the problem perhaps come in, the more medium term, how fast we can accelerate the fa5t we can accelerate the Vaccination Programme once the highest risk groups are vaccinated, the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is manufactured in the uk so there is more confidence about the supply of that, the government believes it should be getting two million doses a week soon from astrazeneca. The Pfizer Vaccine comes from belgium, thatis Pfizer Vaccine comes from belgium, that is where the problems lay. The, the company has said that theres going to be a slow down in manufacturing over the next couple of weeks so they can upgrade the manufacturing facilities and then, manufacture more, and that is why europe who are heavily reliant on the vaccine are seeing real problems m the uk, we have vaccinated five times as many people per head of population as europe, as the latest fig airs somehow today over 8 Million People have received the first dose, up by nearly 300,000. Still waiting for the Prime Minister to come to the latest briefing. In the meantime let us talk to our Political Correspondent nick eardley. It is a very sombre moment for the Prime Minister. He will have to address that figure of 100,000 deaths from coronavirus and of course it will put the spotlight once again on his government and the decisions it has taken over the last year. I decisions it has taken over the last ear. ~. Decisions it has taken over the last ear. ~. , decisions it has taken over the last ear. ~. , � year. Ithink that is right, ben. I think we will year. Ithink that is right, ben. I think we will hear year. Ithink that is right, ben. I think we will hear the year. Ithink that is right, ben. I think we will hear the prime think we will hear the Prime Minister talk about the Vaccine Programme as a way out of this crisis, as a light at the end of the tunnel, but borisjohnson i5 crisis, as a light at the end of the tunnel, but borisjohnson is facing and has faced for some time que5tion5 and has faced for some time questions about the pace at which the government has reacted to 5piking numbers of cases, whether it should have locked down earlier, whether some of the decisions that its take haventjust been too slow. We have heard from the labour 5low. We have heard from the labour leader sir keir starmer in the last half hour since that 100,000 figure was released. His message is very much this is a moment for reflection. Reflection. Here the Prime Minister reflection. Reflection. Here the Prime Minister with reflection. Reflection. Here the Prime Minister with the reflection. Reflection. Here the Prime Minister with the latest i Prime Minister with the latest downing street briefing. Good afternoon. I am sorry to have to tell you that today the number of deaths recorded from covid in the uk has surpassed deaths recorded from covid in the uk has 5urpa55ed100,000. And it is hard to compute the sorrow contained in that grim 5tati5tic. The years of life lo5t, in that grim 5tati5tic. The years of life lost, the Family Gatherings not attended and for so many relatives, the missed chance even to say goodbye. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. Fathers and mother, brothers and sister, 5on5 fathers and mother, brothers and sister, sons and daughters, and the 5i5ter, sons and daughters, and the many grandparents who have been taken. And to all those who grieve we make this pledge, that when we have come through this crisis, we will come together, as a nation, to remember everyone we lost, and to honour the 5elfle55 heroism of all those on the front line who gave their lives to save other5. Their lives to save others. We will remember the courage of countless working people, notjust our amazing countless working people, notjust ouramazing nhs countless working people, notjust our amazing nhs and care workers but shop workering transport staff, pharmacist, teacher5, police, armed forces, Emergency Services. And many force5, Emergency Services. And many others who kept our country going during our biggest cri5i5 others who kept our country going during our biggest crisis since the second world war. We will commemorate the small acts of kindness, the spirit of volunteering. And the daily sacrifice of millions, who placed their lives on hold, time and time, as we fought each new wave of the virus. Buying time for our brilliant viru5. Buying time for our brilliant 5cienti5ts viru5. Buying time for our brilliant scientists to come to our aid. In that moment of commemoration, we will celebrate the genius and perseverance of those who discovered the vaccines. And the immense National Effort never seen before in our history, which is now under way to distribute them. One that that has now seen us immunise over 6. 8 Million People across the united kingdom. And when those vaccines are finally freed u5 kingdom. And when those vaccines are finally freed us from this virus and put us on a path to recovery, we will make sure we learn the lessons and reflect and prepare, and until that time, the best and most important thing we can all do, to honour the memory of those who have died, i5 honour the memory of those who have died, is to Work Together with ever greater resolve, to defeat this disease, and that is what we will do. I am going to hand over to chris for the slides. For the slides. Thank you Prime Minister. On for the slides. Thank you Prime Minister. On this for the slides. Thank you Prime Minister. On this very for the slides. Thank you Prime Minister. On this very sad for the slides. Thank you Prime Minister. On this very sad day i j minister. On this very sad day i havejust got three minister. On this very sad day i have just got three slides. The first is the number of people testing positive for covid in the uk. And as you can see on this graph, the number peaked at a very high number, it is still at a very high number, it is still at a very high number, it is still at a very high number but it has been coming down. I want to just put one caution on that, which se55ion down. I want to just put one caution on that, which session that office for National Statistics data demonstrates a rather 5lower decrease, and i think we need to be careful that we do not relax too early. Next slide please. The number of people in hospital with covid i5 people in hospital with covid is still an incredibly high number, over 35,000 people, and a5 still an incredibly high number, over 35,000 people, and as you can see in this graph, it is flattened off, it is not still rising overall, it is substantially above the peak in april, and over this time, it looks as if it is coming down slightly in some areas, including london and the south east and east of england, but there are some areas of england, but there are some areas of the country where it is still not convincingly reducing, so it is still at a very high level throughout the country and nhs staff are working incredibly hard with many very sicko individual patients. Next slide please. And finally, on this day, the number of deaths, at the moment this looks as if it has flattened out but at a very high level so the most recent seven day average for death, the rolling seven day average is 1242 death, an incredibly high number and we have to be realistic, that the rate of mortality, the number of people dying a day, will come down relatively slowly, over the next two weeks. And will probably be flat for a while now. So we will still unfortunately be having additional deaths to add to that very sad total that the Prime Minister talked about. Thank you very much. Thanks ve much about. Thank you very much. Thanks very much chris. About. Thank you very much. Thanks very much chris. Anything about. Thank you very much. Thanks very much chris. Anything you about. Thank you very much. Thanks very much chris. Anything you wantl very much chris. Anything you want to add . ,. ,. , ~ , very much chris. Anything you want to add . ,. ,. ,. , to add . Just to thank my fellow staff across to add . Just to thank my fellow staff across the to add . Just to thank my fellow staff across the health to add . Just to thank my fellow staff across the Health Service | to add . Just to thank my fellow. Staff across the Health Service for everything that you have done over the course everything that you have done over the course of last year. This sunday it will the course of last year. This sunday it will be the course of last year. This sunday it will be a the course of last year. This sunday it will be a year since the first two it will be a year since the first two patients with coronavirus were treated two patients with coronavirus were treated in two patients with coronavirus were treated in hospital, in newcastle. And it treated in hospital, in newcastle. And it will treated in hospital, in newcastle. And it will be a year since the first and it will be a year since the first flight returned from wuhan to arrow first flight returned from wuhan to arrow Park Hospital for quarantining of people arrow Park Hospital for quarantining of people returning to this country. And it of people returning to this country. And it is of people returning to this country. And it is a of people returning to this country. And it is a year in which over quarter and it is a year in which over quarter of and it is a year in which over quarter of a million severely ill coronavirus patients have been looked coronavirus patients have been looked after in hospital, and those staff who looked after in hospital, and those staff who have been looking after those staff who have been looking after those patients, also, of course, experience those patients, also, of course, experience what this pandemic has meant experience what this pandemic has meant as experience what this pandemic has meant as daughters and sons and as parents meant as daughters and sons and as parents and meant as daughters and sons and as parents and as grandchildren with family parents and as grandchildren with family and friends and neighbours. And so family and friends and neighbours. And so this family and friends and neighbours. And so this is not a year that anybodys and so this is not a year that anybodys going to want to remember, but nor anybodys going to want to remember, but nor is anybodys going to want to remember, but nor is it anybodys going to want to remember, but nor is it a anybodys going to want to remember, but nor is it a year that across the health but nor is it a year that across the Health Service any of its will ever forget Health Service any of its will ever foret. Health service any of its will ever foriet. ,. ,. , forget. Thanks very much let us go to questions forget. Thanks very much let us go to questions from forget. Thanks very much let us go to questions from the forget. Thanks very much let us go to questions from the public forget. Thanks very much let us go to questions from the public now, | to questions from the public now, martin from the wirral. Lithfith martin from the wirral. With vaccines on martin from the wirral. With vaccines on the martin from the wirral. With vaccines on the way martin from the wirral. With vaccines on the way what martin from the wirral. Ti vaccines on the way what are long term plans to allow a return to travel, and government working, proactively, who other nations, to install safe travel mechanisms including potential shared databases including potential shared data bases and including potential shared databases and any technology, so we can get business going as soon as possible . Thanks martin. Well, what we want to do is look at where we have got to on the 15th february, as you know, thatis on the 15th february, as you know, that is the date by which we hope to have vaccinated all the most vulnerable groups, the committee, one to four groups, and see what, where we are in terms of reducing the spread of infection, and what we have done to protect the most vulnerable. I think martin, it would be fair to say, as you have heard from chris, the rate of infection is still pretty forbiddingly high, but at a certain stage we will want to be getting things open, but that will depend on us continuing to succeed in driving the level of infection down, and rolling out that Vaccine Programme as fast as we possibly can, and what i will be doing in the course of the next few days and weeks, is sending out in more detail as soon as we can, when and how we want to get things open again, but that will depend on us continuing to beat the disease. Let us go to mark from plymouth please. What strategy will the government publish to ensure no child is left behind . ~. ,. , behind . Mark, we will want to look ve ve behind . Mark, we will want to look very very carefully behind . Mark, we will want to look very very carefully at behind . Mark, we will want to look very very carefully at the behind . Mark, we will want to look very very carefully at the data behind . Mark, we will want to look very very carefully at the data at. Very very carefully at the data at where we have got to with the Vaccination Programme before we make announcements about the time tables as i have said toer ma tin, we are working as hard as we can to get thing open. If you recall we really wanted to keep schools open, and we will want the re open them but we must do it in a what they is safe and we must do it cautiously. I appreciate the huge efforts parents are now going to, to teach their kids at home, to look after kids who should be in school, a school is the best place for pupils and i know the educational damage that we risk doing by protracted lockdowns and thatis doing by protracted lockdowns and that is why the government continues to support all sorts of measures to help teachers, big roll out of laptop, 1. 3 million laptops that we have provided, and massive investments in catch up tuition as well. Clearly that cant be in tutors and one to one help of all kinds, that cant be done while kids are at home, so, what we will do, mark, is work around the clock, as we come out of lockdown, to ensure that the kids who have suffered, pupils who have suffered from loss of learning, from differential learning, across the country, get the attention, get the the tuition and the support that they need and will make sure that exams are fair, and properly adjusted, to reflect what everybody has been doing through in the last going through in the last 12 months. Let us go to kuhn cowen of the bbc. Laura kuenssberg. Kuhn cowen of the bbc. Laura kuenssberg kuhn cowen of the bbc. Laura kuenssberg. Thank you very much. Everyones kuenssberg. Thank you very much. Everyones thoughts kuenssberg. Thank you very much. Everyones thoughts are kuenssberg. Thank you very much. Everyones thoughts are with kuenssberg. Thank you very much. Everyones thoughts are with those who have lost loved one, but Prime Minister near the start, the hope in government was to contain the numbers to 20,000. It is now five times that, what went so wrong . And to the other, can you give us any idea of the range of the possible totals that you are looking at now, what are your expectations . Weill. What are your expectations . Well, laura, ithink what are your expectations . Well, laura, i think on what are your expectations . Well, laura, i think on this what are your expectations . Well, laura, i think on this day, what are your expectations . Well, laura, i think on this day, i what are your expectations . Well, laura, i think on this day, i should just really repeat that i am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and of course, as Prime Minister i take full responsibility for everything that the government has done, what i can tell you is that we truly did everything we could and continue to do everything that we can, to minimise loss of life and to minimise suffering in what has been a very very difficult stage, and a very very difficult crisis for our country and we will continue to do that. Just as every government that is affected by this crisis around the world is continuing to do the i think ithink in i think in terms of the range of totals ive always been very careful totals ive always been very careful to try to not make forward projections in terms of numbers. All i have said earlier on, and i will repeat this. Unfortunately, we are going to see quite a lot more debts over the next few weeks before the effects of the vaccines begin to be helped more deaths. We have to be realistic that will happen, but trying to put a number on it i dont think its helpful to anybody. I think its helpful to anybody. I think we should do everything we can to try to prevent that, and that is a combination of rolling out the vaccines, as the Prime Minister has said, but also all the us doing our bit in terms of staying at home except where we have to come and thatis except where we have to come and that is something i know the entire country is doing and that is really the key to the next few weeks. Fundamentally, the driver of the death fundamentally, the driver of the death rate is the infection rate. Set against that, we are seeing continuing improvements in hospital treatment continuing improvements in hospital treatment for severely sick coronavirus patients. Crudely, the inhospital coronavirus patients. Crudely, the in hospital death rate has fallen from in hospital death rate has fallen from about to fifth, and we do expect from about to fifth, and we do expect that there will be more treatments for coronavirus looking out over treatments for coronavirus looking out over the next 6 18 months, perhaps out over the next 6 18 months, perhaps. We have all really seen those perhaps. We have all really seen those with some of the of the steroids, those with some of the of the steroids, the Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs steroids, the Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs that steroids, the Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs that have been repurposed, and there are drugs that have been repurposed, and there are antivirals in the pipeline. Looking out, ithink there are antivirals in the pipeline. Looking out, i think we can see pipeline. Looking out, i think we can see a pipeline. Looking out, i think we can see a world in which coronavirus may be can see a world in which coronavirus may be more can see a world in which coronavirus may be more treatable, but for right now it may be more treatable, but for right now it is may be more treatable, but for right now it is a may be more treatable, but for right now it is a combination of reducing infections now it is a combination of reducing infections and getting vaccinations donei infections and getting vaccinations done, and infections and getting vaccinations done, and as we stand here this evening done, and as we stand here this evening one in eight adults across this country have now had their first vaccination, so we are well on our way first vaccination, so we are well on our wa. First vaccination, so we are well on ourwa. ,. ,. , first vaccination, so we are well on ourwa. ,. ,. ,. ,. , our way. Thanks, simon and laura. Itv . Our way. Thanks, simon and laura. Ltv . Thank our way. Thanks, simon and laura. Ltv . Thank you. Our way. Thanks, simon and laura. Itv . Thank you, prime our way. Thanks, simon and laura. Itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. I itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. 20,000 deaths itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. 20,000 deaths was itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. 20,000 deaths was once itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. I 20,000 deaths was once described itv . Thank you, Prime Minister. 20,000 deaths was once described as a good 20,000 deaths was once described as a good outcome 20,000 deaths was once described as a good outcome. How 20,000 deaths was once described as a good outcome. How would 20,000 deaths was once described as a good outcome. How would you a good outcome. How would you describe a good outcome. How would you describe the a good outcome. How would you describe the outcome a good outcome. How would you describe the outcome of a good outcome. How would you. Describe the outcome of 100,000 deaths describe the outcome of100,000 deaths that describe the outcome of 100,000 deaths that you describe the outcome of 100,000 deaths that you have describe the outcome of 100,000 deaths that you have presided describe the outcome of 100,000. Deaths that you have presided over . And, deaths that you have presided over . And. To deaths that you have presided over . And, to professor deaths that you have presided over . And, to professor whitty, deaths that you have presided over . And, to professor whitty, what deaths that you have presided over . I and, to professor whitty, what would you say and, to professor whitty, what would you say to and, to professor whitty, what would you say to care and, to professor whitty, what would you say to care homes and, to professor whitty, what would you say to care homes telling and, to professor whitty, what would you say to care homes telling us you say to care homes telling us tonight you say to care homes telling us tonight they you say to care homes telling us tonight they are you say to care homes telling us tonight they are concerned you say to care homes telling usi tonight they are concerned about you say to care homes telling us tonight they are concerned about the iap tonight they are concerned about the gap between tonight they are concerned about the gap between the tonight they are concerned about the gap between the first tonight they are concerned about the gap between the first dose tonight they are concerned about the gap between the first dose of tonight they are concerned about the gap between the first dose of the gap between the first dose of the vaccine gap between the first dose of the vaccine and gap between the first dose of the vaccine and the gap between the first dose of the vaccine and the second gap between the first dose of the vaccine and the second dose gap between the first dose of the vaccine and the second dose andl gap between the first dose of the vaccine and the second dose and who are calling vaccine and the second dose and who are calling on vaccine and the second dose and who are calling on the vaccine and the second dose and who are calling on the government vaccine and the second dose and who are calling on the government to are calling on the government to close are calling on the government to close that are calling on the government to close that gap are calling on the government to close that gap back are calling on the government to close that gap back down are calling on the government to close that gap back down to are calling on the government to close that gap back down to the i close that gap back down to the recommended close that gap back down to the recommended number close that gap back down to the recommended number by close that gap back down to the i recommended number by pfizer . Close that gap back down to the recommended number by pfizer . Paul, i think that, you recommended number by pfizer . Paul, i think that, you know, recommended number by pfizer . Paul, i think that, you know, you recommended number by pfizer . Ipliiii i think that, you know, you can exhaust the thesaurus of misery. It is an appalling and tragic loss of life, and there is no question about it, and all we can do now as chris hasjust been saying, it, and all we can do now as chris has just been saying, is Work Together with the tools that we have of the stay at home principal, plus the vaccines, to defeat the virus. As i say, im sure that we will. In as i say, im sure that we will. Ii terms of the gap, i will give a relatively technical answer, because i think it is important that people who are listening to this who had won vaccination actually understand the logic behind it, because i think it is a key question who have had one vaccination. The first and really critical point, which i think everybody understands, is our limitation is the number of vaccines available. That is true here and in every other country. Therefore, by definition, if you give a vaccine twice to someone you can only give it to half the number of people over a period of time, so the first reason for delaying the course of the vaccines is to double, over the next few weeks, the number of people who can actually have a vaccine and get some protection. The second point on this is the great majority of the protection comes from the first vaccine that someone has, the great majority, and that is true for the Pfizer Vaccine, and for as far as i can see the Moderna Vaccine that has come in and for the az vaccine, that the great majority of the protection is for this first dose, so we are giving a first dose to twice as many people. The third thing people say, might we have a situation where the immunity suddenly wanes between three weeks and 12 weeks . And there is no evidence for that for natural immunity, and there is no evident for that with the vaccine, and no evidence for that in the Moderna Vaccine, which is very similar to the Pfizer Vaccine. So in that side of things i think we are confident. The final reason that people are worried about is, well, could this give rise to a situation where there is an increased risk of something developing in terms of a variant of this in the period of the eight weeks, and that is a theoretical worry, but the data from the az implies we may get at least as strong a response, and for az at least possibly a stronger response for having it a longer period of time, so it will be stronger, a longer period of protection afterwards, which will help protect the vaccine as well as the individual person afterwards. So there are lots of reasons, and we have thought very carefully about the balance of this, but the balance of risk, in terms of reducing the number of deaths in the community, and i really want to stress that, thatis and i really want to stress that, that is the aim of this, is to maximise the number of people who get that first dose where the great majority of the protection comes from. Majority of the protection comes from. ,. ,. ,. , from. Thanks, paul. Sam quotes from s. Prime from. Thanks, paul. Sam quotes from sky. Prime minister, from. Thanks, paul. Sam quotes from sky. Prime minister, you from. Thanks, paul. Sam quotes from sky. Prime minister, youjust from. Thanks, paul. Sam quotes from sky. Prime minister, you just said sky. Prime minister, you ust said we truly are i sky. Prime minister, you ust said we truly did everything sky. Prime minister, youjust said we truly did everything we sky. Prime minister, youjust said we truly did everything we could i sky. Prime minister, you just said i we truly did everything we could to save lives we truly did everything we could to save lives we truly did everything we could to save lives sam we truly did everything we could to save lives sam coates we truly did everything we could to save lives sam coates from we truly did everything we could to| save lives sam coates from sky. Do you save lives sam coates from sky. Do you really save lives sam coates from sky. Do you really not save lives sam coates from sky. Do you really not think save lives sam coates from sky. Do you really not think some save lives sam coates from sky. Do you really not think some of do you really not think some of those do you really not think some of those 100,000 do you really not think some of those 100,000 deaths do you really not think some of those 100,000 deaths could i do you really not think some of. Those 100,000 deaths could have do you really not think some of those100,000 deaths could have been those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented if those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented if you those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented if you had those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented if you had made those 100,000 deaths could have been prevented if you had made decisions i prevented if you had made decisions differently prevented if you had made decisions differently and prevented if you had made decisions differently and perhaps prevented if you had made decisions differently and perhaps followed differently and perhaps followed scientists differently and perhaps followed scientists recommendations differently and perhaps followed. Scientists recommendations more closely . Scientists recommendations more closely . Professor scientists recommendations more closely . Professor whitty, scientists recommendations more closely . Professorwhitty, do scientists recommendations more closely . Professorwhitty, do youl closely . Professorwhitty, do you wish you closely . Professorwhitty, do you wish you could closely . Professorwhitty, do you wish you could have closely . Professorwhitty, do you wish you could have done closely . Professorwhitty, do you wish you could have done more i closely . Professorwhitty, do you| wish you could have done more to encourage wish you could have done more to encourage the wish you could have done more to encourage the lockdown wish you could have done more to encourage the lockdown is wish you could have done more to encourage the lockdown is a wish you could have done more toi encourage the lockdown is a Circuit Breaker encourage the lockdown is a Circuit Breaker say encourage the lockdown is a Circuit Breaker say in encourage the lockdown is a Circuit Breaker say in september encourage the lockdown is a Circuit Breaker say in september rather. Encourage the lockdown is a circuit. Breaker say in september rather than waiting breaker say in september rather than waiting to breaker say in september rather than waiting to october . Breaker say in september rather than waiting to october . And, breaker say in september rather than waiting to october . And, sir breaker say in september rather than waiting to october . And, sir simon, i waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you think waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you think there waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you think there was waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you think there was too waiting to october . And, sir simon, do you think there was too much do you think there was too much household do you think there was too much household mixing do you think there was too much household mixing in do you think there was too much household mixing in december . | do you think there was too much household mixing in december . Sami, do you think there was too much household mixing in december . Sam, i ust want to household mixing in december . Sam, i just want to repeat household mixing in december . Sam, i just want to repeat what household mixing in december . Sam, i just want to repeat what i household mixing in december . Sam, i just want to repeat what i said just want to repeat what i said already to paul and to laura. We did everything that we could to minimise suffering and minimise loss of life in this country as a result of the pandemic, and im deeply sorry for every life lost. What i can say is that the government will continue to do everything we can to minimise life lost as we go forward, and i continue to urge people, as chris has just continue to urge people, as chris hasjust done, to continue to urge people, as chris has just done, to follow that guidance and stay at home and protect the nhs and save lives. In protect the nhs and save lives. Ii terms of the question you ask me, the data. What we have now is a situation that is quite different to what we had in september and i think it is important we recognise that. The new variant has changed the situation we are in very substantially. The question about when to actually do particular measures has always been a matter of trying to balance, and ive said this repeatedly throughout this tragic pandemic, to balance the things which actually reduce the risk of transmission with all the other things we are trying to do in terms of society staying functioning over what has been a very long period of time, and unfortunately one not through the moment. That is something which political leader macklin might have had to really balance difficult things. The Scientific Evidence is clearly something which is one part of that which political leaders have had to really balance. But i would go back to saying thing which we have which has made things really difficult in 20 dfid in which has made things really difficult in 20 dfid in 2021 which has made things really difficult in 20 dfid in 2021 is the new variant. That was not known about in september although it is something we are trying to address now different in 2021. The measures we had at the moment, we were worried were not enough to hold this new variant. The data at the beginning of the slide sessions that i showed you i think shows the rates are just about holding with a new variant with what everybody is doing. Our big worry was that that wouldnt even be able to hold it, and it is going to be much harder because of this new variant and i think we need to be more realistic about that. So would say is three things. Firstly, in terms of the underlying things. Firstly, in terms of the underl ini ,. ,. , ~ underlying causes of spread i think we would defer underlying causes of spread i think we would defer to underlying causes of spread i think we would defer to chris underlying causes of spread i think we would defer to chris and we would defer to chris and epidemiologists, but secondly the fact is epidemiologists, but secondly the fact is we epidemiologists, but secondly the fact is we see it in the Health Service fact is we see it in the Health Service is fact is we see it in the Health Service is that on Christmas Day we had 18,000 service is that on Christmas Day we had 18,000 coronavirus positive patients had 18,000 coronavirus positive patients and now we have just under 33,000, patients and now we have just under 33,000, but the third point is that we have 33,000, but the third point is that we have seen that growth rippling up from the we have seen that growth rippling up from the south east, london, to the east of from the south east, london, to the east of england, then up to the midlands, which is consistent with the spread of the new variant of the virus the spread of the new variant of the virus. , the spread of the new variant of the virus. ,. Virus. Tanks very much, sam. The mirror, virus. Tanks very much, sam. The mirror. Pippa virus. Tanks very much, sam. The mirror, pippa crerar. Virus. Tanks very much, sam. The mirror, pippa crerar. Virus. Tanks very much, sam. The mirror, pippa crerar. Thanks i virus. Tanks very much, sam. The l mirror, pippa crerar. Thanks very mirror, pippa crerar. Thanks very much. In mirror, pippa crerar. Thanks very much. ,. , much. In the days and weeks approaching much. In the days and weeks approaching the much. In the days and weeks approaching the sad much. In the days and weeks i approaching the sad milestone, much. In the days and weeks approaching the sad milestone, have you spoken approaching the sad milestone, have you spoken to approaching the sad milestone, have you spoken to the approaching the sad milestone, have you spoken to the families approaching the sad milestone, have you spoken to the families bereaved | you spoken to the families bereaved by coronavirus . You spoken to the families bereaved by coronavirus . Do you spoken to the families bereaved by coronavirus . Do you you spoken to the families bereaved by coronavirus . Do you ring you spoken to the families bereaved by coronavirus . Do you ring them i you spoken to the families bereaved | by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately or by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately or meet by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately or meet them by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately or meet them on by coronavirus . Do you ring them up privately or meet them on zoom . Ifl privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent, privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent. Why privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent, why not . Privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent, why not . If privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent, why not . If i privately or meet them on zoom . If you havent, why not . If i could i you havent, why not . If i could also you havent, why not . If i could also ask you havent, why not . If i could also ask you. You havent, why not . If i could also ask you, nhs you havent, why not . If i could also ask you, nhs staff you havent, why not . If i could also ask you, nhs staff in you havent, why not . If i could i also ask you, nhs staff in scotland were given also ask you, nhs staff in scotland were given £500 also ask you, nhs staff in scotland were given £500 bonus also ask you, nhs staff in scotland were given £500 bonus in also ask you, nhs staff in scotland i were given £500 bonus in recognition of their were given £500 bonus in recognition of their hard were given £500 bonus in recognition of their hard work were given £500 bonus in recognition of their hard work during were given £500 bonus in recognition of their hard work during the of their hard work during the pandemic of their hard work during the pandemic. Even of their hard work during the pandemic. Even lidl of their hard work during the i pandemic. Even lidl supermarket of their hard work during the pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its staff pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its staff a pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its staff a £200 pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its staff a £200 bonus pandemic. Even lidl supermarket has given its staff a £200 bonus today. I given its staff a £200 bonus today. Why havent given its staff a £200 bonus today. Why havent nhs given its staff a £200 bonus today. Why havent nhs staff given its staff a £200 bonus today. Why havent nhs staff in given its staff a £200 bonus today. Why havent nhs staff in england l given its staff a £200 bonus today. I why havent nhs staff in england had a similar why havent nhs staff in england had a similar gesture why havent nhs staff in england had a similar gesture of why havent nhs staff in england had a similar gesture of support . Why havent nhs staff in england had a similar gesture of support . And i why havent nhs staff in england had a similar gesture of support . And toi a similar gesture of support . And to sir simon. A similar gesture of support . And to sir simon, would a similar gesture of support . And to sir simon, would you a similar gesture of support . And to sir simon, would you like a similar gesture of support . And to sir simon, would you like to a similar gesture of support . And to sir simon, would you like to see i sir simon, would you like to see them sir simon, would you like to see them get sir simon, would you like to see them get one . Sir simon, would you like to see them get one . Thank sir simon, would you like to see them get one . Thank you. Sir simon, would you like to see them get one . Thank you. The. Sir simon, would you like to see them get one . Thank you. The answer to our them get one . Thank you. The answer to your first them get one . Thank you. The answer to your first question them get one . Thank you. The answer to your first question is, them get one . Thank you. The answer to your first question is, yes, them get one . Thank you. The answer to your first question is, yes, of to yourfirst question is, yes, of course, i have spoken to families of the bereaved, and will continue to do so. Again, i extend and offer my condolences to everybody who has suffered loss of a loved one during this pandemic, and we do our absolute utmost to support our wonderful nhs staff and indeed had a three year pay package for nurses, and i think it was 12. 8 , and we will continue to invest record sums in the nhs. I think the amount we invest in the nhs, even before the pandemic began, it was more than any time in modern memory. £34 million package of investment, that will continue under this government. I think what i would say, having spoken think what i would say, having spoken to think what i would say, having spoken to many staff across the health spoken to many staff across the Health Service obviously day in, day out, actually what people probably want right now its three things. First. Want right now its three things. First. To want right now its three things. First. To be want right now its three things. First, to be able to look forward to some first, to be able to look forward to some sort first, to be able to look forward to some sort of respite from what has been some sort of respite from what has beenjust some sort of respite from what has beenjust an incredibly some sort of respite from what has been just an incredibly demanding and continuous year of pressure. Secondly, and continuous year of pressure. Secondly, to know that there are reinforcements on the way, that the staffing reinforcements on the way, that the staffing pressures in the Health Service staffing pressures in the Health Service will be taken seriously and the Years Service will be taken seriously and the years to come, and there are some the years to come, and there are some encouraging signs on that but we have some encouraging signs on that but we have to some encouraging signs on that but we have to do a lot more. And then, thirdly, we have to do a lot more. And then, thirdly, to we have to do a lot more. And then, thirdly, to tackle the pressures in the here thirdly, to tackle the pressures in the here and now which fundamentally are about the here and now which fundamentally are about reducing the number of new patients are about reducing the number of new patients who are turning up in a e severely patients who are turning up in a e severely ill patients who are turning up in a e severely ill with coronavirus day in, severely ill with coronavirus day in. Day severely ill with coronavirus day in. Day out severely ill with coronavirus day in, day out. So it is that combination, i think. In, day out. So it is that combination, ithink. The in, day out. So it is that combination, i think. The sense there combination, i think. The sense there will combination, i think. The sense there will be some respite, the sense there will be some respite, the sense that the Health Service will iet sense that the Health Service will get resilient with the staffing support it needs in the years to come. Support it needs in the years to come. But support it needs in the years to come, but for right now that actually come, but for right now that actually we collectively turn off the incessant new admissions arriving the incessant new admissions arriving with very severely ill coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Har cole coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Harry cole from coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Harry cole from the coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Harry cole from the sun. Coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Harry cole from the sun. Thank coronavirus patients. Thanks, pippa. Harry cole from the sun. Thank you, j harry cole from the sun. Thank you, adults with harry cole from the sun. Thank you, adults with children harry cole from the sun. Thank you, adults with children are harry cole from the sun. Thank you, adults with children are desperate i adults with children are desperate for some adults with children are desperate for some clarity adults with children are desperate for some clarity and adults with children are desperate for some clarity and this adults with children are desperate for some clarity and this is adults with children are desperate for some clarity and this is not i adults with children are desperate for some clarity and this is not a l for some clarity and this is not a question for some clarity and this is not a question of for some clarity and this is not a question of when for some clarity and this is not a question of when put for some clarity and this is not a question of when put a for some clarity and this is not a question of when put a questionj for some clarity and this is not a i question of when put a question of how question of when put a question of how will question of when put a question of how. Will children question of when put a question of how. Will children in question of when put a question of how. Will children in lower question of when put a question of how. Will children in lower case i how. Will children in lower case areas how. Will children in lower case areas be how. Will children in lower case areas be allowed how. Will children in lower case areas be allowed to how. Will children in lower case areas be allowed to go how. Will children in lower case areas be allowed to go back i how. Will children in lower case areas be allowed to go back toi areas be allowed to go back to school areas be allowed to go back to school first . Areas be allowed to go back to school first . Especially areas be allowed to go back toi school first . Especially Primary School school first . Especially Primary School Children School first . Especially Primary School children who school first . Especially Primary School children who have school first . Especially Primary School children who have the i school first . Especially primary i School Children who have the most school first . Especially Primary School children who have the most to lose from School Children who have the most to lose from this School Children who have the most to lose from this virus School Children who have the most to lose from this virus educationally. I lose from this virus educationally. Will you lose from this virus educationally. Will you face lose from this virus educationally. Will you face back lose from this virus educationally. Will you face back schools lose from this virus educationally. Will you face back schools by lose from this virus educationally. Will you face back schools by agel will you face back schools by age and region will you face back schools by age and region when will you face back schools by age and region when it will you face back schools by age and region when it is will you face back schools by age and region when it is possible i will you face back schools by age and region when it is possible to| and region when it is possible to begin and region when it is possible to begin getting and region when it is possible to begin getting children and region when it is possible to begin getting children back and region when it is possible to begin getting children back intol and region when it is possible to i begin getting children back into the classroom . Begin getting children back into the classroom . And, begin getting children back into the classroom . And, if begin getting children back into the classroom . And, if i begin getting children back into the classroom . And, if i may, begin getting children back into the classroom . And, if i may, there i begin getting children back into thei classroom . And, if i may, there has been classroom . And, if i may, there has been some classroom . And, if i may, there has been some sabre classroom . And, if i may, there has been some sabre rattling classroom . And, if i may, there has been some sabre rattling and been some sabre rattling and comments been some sabre rattling and comments out been some sabre rattling and comments out of been some sabre rattling and comments out of europe i been some sabre rattling and i comments out of europe looking been some sabre rattling and comments out of europe looking at the possibility comments out of europe looking at the possibility of comments out of europe looking at the possibility of blocking comments out of europe looking at the possibility of blocking exports i the possibility of blocking exports of vaccines the possibility of blocking exports of vaccines produced the possibility of blocking exports of vaccines produced into the possibility of blocking exports of vaccines produced into europel the possibility of blocking exports i of vaccines produced into europe to third countries of vaccines produced into europe to third countries like of vaccines produced into europe to third countries like the of vaccines produced into europe to third countries like the uk. Of vaccines produced into europe to third countries like the uk. Can of vaccines produced into europe to third countries like the uk. Can wel third countries like the uk. Can we iet third countries like the uk. Can we get a third countries like the uk. Can we get a response third countries like the uk. Can we get a response from third countries like the uk. Can we get a response from you third countries like the uk. Can we get a response from you to third countries like the uk. Can we get a response from you to that . I third countries like the uk. Can we i get a response from you to that . And what measures get a response from you to that . And what measures are get a response from you to that . And what measures are you get a response from you to that . And what measures are you putting get a response from you to that . And what measures are you putting in i what measures are you putting in place what measures are you putting in place behind what measures are you putting in place behind the what measures are you putting in place behind the scenes what measures are you putting in place behind the scenes to what measures are you putting in place behind the scenes to makel what measures are you putting in i place behind the scenes to make sure that our place behind the scenes to make sure that our vaccine place behind the scenes to make sure that our Vaccine Supplies place behind the scenes to make sure that our Vaccine Supplies are place behind the scenes to make sure that our Vaccine Supplies are not i that our Vaccine Supplies are not under that our Vaccine Supplies are not under threat that our Vaccine Supplies are not under threat from that our Vaccine Supplies are not under threat from hostile that our Vaccine Supplies are not under threat from hostile action| under threat from hostile action such under threat from hostile action such as under threat from hostile action such as that . Under threat from hostile action such as that . Under threat from hostile action such as that . Ok. Thanks, harry, very much such as that . Ok. Thanks, harry, very much. Getting such as that . Ok. Thanks, harry, very much. Getting kids such as that . Ok. Thanks, harry, very much. Getting kids back such as that . Ok. Thanks, harry, very much. Getting kids back into school, primary kids back into school, primary kids back into school, as i said earlier, that is something that has been a top priority. Forthe something that has been a top priority. For the government it continues to be our top priority for any kind of reopening. Clearly, if we are going to go back after half term, february 22, we need to give two weeks notice, and what i can tell you is we will be making sure we will give advice well in advance of that about what we hope to do and give people some rough idea of when things might be possible to stop and that depends, as i said earlier on, on the roll out of the vaccine, where we are with the pandemic, the rate of infection, and so on. And on your excellent point about will there be a regional difference when we look at areas where the virus is less present, it is pretty much a National Picture at the moment, but of course we will look at all those types of. All those ideas. On supply of vaccines from abroad and supply of vaccines from abroad and supply into this country, i have total confidence in our supplies. We have been over this many, many times in the last few days and hours. We have confidence in her supplies. I have confidence in her supplies. I have seen what the commissioner has said. All i would say is, obviously, we expect and hope that our eu friends will honour all contracts, and we will continue, and we fully expect that will happen, and we continue to work with friends and partners in the eu. And indeed around the world. Because the delivery of the vaccine has been a multiNational Effort. The creation of the vaccine has been a multiNational Effort. And the delivery of the vaccine is multinational as well, because the virus knows no borders. I think that was it. I dont think you had a question for either of my colleagues. Lets go finally to Charlie Cooper of politico. Thank ou for Charlie Cooper of politico. Thank you for having Charlie Cooper of politico. Thank you for having me. Charlie cooper of politico. Thank you for having me. Prime Charlie Cooper of politico. Thank i you for having me. Prime minister ou soke you for having me. Prime minister you spoke about you for having me. Prime minister you spoke about learning you for having me. Prime minister you spoke about learning lessons, can you give a concrete example or several of what wow are doing or planning, to ensure that we never see the terrible loss of life in the uk again, because this will not the last pandemic, and just to follow up on the question about the eu, would you urge the eu against the kind of vaccine control, controls on exports of vaccine that have been suggested . Would i urge the eu. . Of vaccine that have been suggested . Would i urge the eu. . Would i urge the eu. . Against. Aiainst, would i urge the eu. . Against. Against. Sorry. Would i urge the eu. . Against. Against. Sorry. I would i urge the eu. . Against. Against, sorry, iwasnt would i urge the eu. . Against. Against, sorry, i wasnt quite i would i urge the eu. . Against. L against, sorry, i wasnt quite sure. Look, charlie, thank you very much. On what we are doing, lets be in no doubt, that the uk is in a radically different position now, from where we were 12 months ago, when it comes to pandemic preparedness or dealing with an epidemic of this kind. We have, you know, huge quantities of not only huge quantities the of ppe, but we have the ability to make it ourselves, we have created an indigenous industry, to do lateral, notjust to conduct lateral indigenous industry, to do lateral, not just to conduct lateral flow testing but to make lateral flow tests, we have a vast test and trace industry, nhs test and trace has been built from scratch, is now a colossal operation, that is actually doing amazing work in isolating incidents of the disease, and helping us to find out exactly what is going on and where. The uk is also, i will ask chris and simon to comment on this, the uk is also out in front in conducting testing of the virus case, so that we know exactly what type of virus and 47 of all the analysis in the world is now done in the uk, you will have seen what this country has done in terms of creation of the viable treatments for the virus, or pioneering of viable treatment in the form of desks method zone and clearly we are out in front, in the in the manufacture, or the creation of one of a group of countries that is doing well in helping to create vaccines. None of that is, of course, any consolation for the terrible toll of life that we were forced to announce today, i am forced to announce today, i am forced to announce today, i am forced to announce today, but i can tell you that things are really very different now in the uk, as a result of the pandemic and our readiness for any future pandemic is really colossal by comparison, but that is probably no particular surprise to you, or to our viewer, probably no particular surprise to you, orto ourviewer, i probably no particular surprise to you, or to our viewer, i think people would expect that, and quite rightly. On, on your point about the vaccines and our friends rightly. On, on your point about the vaccines and ourfriends in rightly. On, on your point about the vaccines and our friends in the rightly. On, on your point about the vaccines and ourfriends in the eu, i would just repeat what i said, the creation of these vaccines has been a wonderful example of multinational cooperation, and i think that one of the lessons we have to learn as a the lessons we have to learn as a the world has to learn from the pandemic is the need to co operate, and to make sure that we do things together and we understand how to fight the pandemics together, so i dont want to see restriction on the supply of ppe across borders, on the supply of ppe across borders, on the supply of ppe across borders, on the supply of drugs across borders and i dont want to see restrictions on vaccines or their ingredients across borders and i think that is a pretty common sense and i am sure, would be widely supported across the eu as well. ,. ,. ,. ,. , well. There is a huge amount we have learned are well. There is a huge amount we have learned are learning well. There is a huge amount we have learned are learning and well. There is a huge amount we have learned are learning and will well. There is a huge amount we have learned are learning and will learn i learned are learning and will learn about this, i will take three broad groups, there is things we have learn scientifically, we now understand the virus if a way we didnt and some the science has changed, some of our understanding of what the science meant has changed, we were initially cautious about whether masks were useful. We decided they were, based on increasing levels of evidence, we, initially didnt realise how strong the importance of asymptomatic transmission was, for example, i think we recognise that is a major part of it. There are things we have learned clinically end as sir simon said, doctors are earn willing the whole time. Sometimes by randomised trial, many of which are led from the uk because we have a strong tradition of evidence based medicine and by clinical practise, the way doctors the and nurses learn how to improve treatment in different areas and we have learned things operationally, very obviously, that means that we can do things now that we were not able to do and didnt understand how to do early on and we will continue to learn and i think we need to realise we will have to continue to learn the lessons from this pandemic because there is a lot for us to learn from it. Thank you charlie, thank everybody. Thank you charlie, thank everybody. Thank you. Studio concluding the latest briefing from number ten, and you are watching bbc news. We heard him talking about that fig you of 100,000. The Prime Minister offered his cons lenses to everybody who has lost a loved one, he promised after the crisis the uk will learn the lessons and prepare for any future pandemics, englands chief medical officer professor chris whitty alongside him said the death toll remains high and he said, we need to be realistic, that number will come down relatively slowly over the next two weeks, nhs england chief executive Sir Simon Stevens also at the briefing said this is not a year that anybody is going to want to remember, it is one that staff in the nhs will never forget. And professor chris whitty said the new more easily spread veart has variant has changed things make,ic it harder to balance the risk of transmission with keeping society going. Lets talk to our Political Correspondent nick eardley. A very difficult moment of course for the Prime Minister and he said, i take full responsibility for everything the government has done, what i can tell you is that we truly did everything we could but for his critics that wont be enough and they will point to delayed decisions over the last year. They will point to delayed decisions over the last year. Well, ben, there will be questions over the last year. Well, ben, there will be questions about over the last year. Well, ben, there will be questions about the over the last year. Well, ben, there will be questions about the way i over the last year. Well, ben, there will be questions about the way the | will be questions about the way the government has handled the past ten months for some time to come. I suspect, exactly what you say about whether decisions could have been taken earlier about whether the ta ken earlier about whether the government taken earlier about whether the government should have gone further. I think what borisjohnson was trying to do there, was to say the context of this is a huge crisis for the country, he called it the worst crisis since the second world war, pledging that when it is over, the government will learn the lessons and make sure that we are better prepared for any future pandemics but also, an apology of sorts from the Prime Minister there, saying that he was deeply sorry for all those lives that have been lost, saying he took full responsibility for all the decisions that his government had made, and claiming that the government had done everything it could to reduce the impact of this crisis. I suspect that last point is one that some of his opponents will question, people will say should the government have made firmer decision, should it have gone further at an earlier stage, with earlier lockdowns, for example, but the Prime Minister trying to say look, we know we need to learn the lessons, of what has happened over the last year or so, and we pledge to do that when this is over, but also, i think, to do that when this is over, but also, ithink, quite to do that when this is over, but also, i think, quite a clear message from that, ben, it is grim and it is sombre, but this is far from from that, ben, it is grim and it is sombre, but this is farfrom over. Clear from sombre, but this is farfrom over. Clearfrom prof sombre, but this is farfrom over. Clear from prof chris whitty there, that he thinks that the death rate is going to continue to be high for a while to come, and then go down slowly, so although we have reached this awful moment of 100,000 deaths 28 days orfewer after a this awful moment of 100,000 deaths 28 days or fewer after a positive test, that isnt the end of it and this crisis isnt over. Ibshd test, that isnt the end of it and this crisis isnt over. This crisis isnt over. And one of the criticisms this crisis isnt over. And one of the criticisms of this crisis isnt over. And one of the criticisms of the this crisis isnt over. And one of| the criticisms of the government going way back was whether they should have shut our borders, months ago, to travellers and that is back on the agenda now, we gather ministers talking about this idea of quarantine hotels, what is the latest on that . Quarantine hotels, what is the latest on that . ,. ,. , latest on that . Yes, they are due to discuss that. Latest on that . Yes, they are due to discuss that, it latest on that . Yes, they are due to discuss that, it is latest on that . Yes, they are due to discuss that, it is something latest on that . Yes, they are due to discuss that, it is something we i discuss that, it is something we have spoken about for mondays h now, more so in the last few days because there has been active discussion going on in government among senior members about how far to go when it comes to forcing people who arrive in the uk to quarantine in designated hotels. It does seem likely although not guaranteed that at least some people arriving in the country, in england that is, will have to quarantine in hotels pretty soon. We should find out the exact details of that, if not tonight, then at some point tomorrow the home secretary is due to give a statement to the commons. The question is how many people will face that enforced quarantine . And whether that is seen to go far enough because its a big logistical exercise and one of the fears that some in government have is how easy it would be to do that if everybody was forced to be in that situation and whether it might be better to target it at people coming from particularly high risk areas where we are seeing new variants of the coronavirus. I should point out as well, that scotland is expected to introduce quarantine in designated hotels, too and has warned if it doesnt think the plan is being introduced in england go far enough they may go further in scotland but no specific details yet. I think we will get them if not tonight early tomorrow. Nick, thank you. Our Health Correspondent nick triggle is here. Nick, horrific figure that we have heard there in terms of the deaths, with coronavirus. 100,000 and 162,000 but in terms of the number of cases that is falling at the moment, isnt it. Moment, isnt it. Yes, it is encouraging moment, isnt it. Yes, it is encouraging news, moment, isnt it. Yes, it is encouraging news, when i moment, isnt it. Yes, it is. Encouraging news, when we moment, isnt it. Yes, it is encouraging news, when we look at the number of new case, 20,000 new infections diagnosed in the last 24 hours, that down from 22,000 yesterday, and at the start of the year we were seeing close to 60,000 new cases a day, on average, so that is a sharp fall. We did see professor chris whitty, the chief medical officer there, warn that it may not quite be as sharp as it looks, the government surveillance programme, which involves random testing of people, suggests it is coming down slighter, slower than that. Not everyone who develops symptoms does comes forward for testing, so a word of caution, but they are coming down, that offers hope because hospital cases are beginning to plateau and in the coming weeks we can expect to see the numbers in hospital come down, and then that will translate to a falling in umber fall in numbers of deaths, in february we can expect the Vaccination Programme to have an impact, over80 the Vaccination Programme to have an impact, over 80 of 80 year olds have been vaccinated now. One in eight of all adults have been vaccinated and we know from israel, who are leading the world in terms of vaccination, within three weeks of vaccination, within three weeks of significant numbers being vaccinated we do start to see an impact, so that really offers some hope for february that will see a quite a shift in the numbers down. And also, a bit of hope from Sir Simon Stevens there, of the nhs, talking about improved methods of treating people in hospital with covid, and the mortality rate in hospitals going down from one in three to one in five now, and just talk us through the different methods now that doctors have, to save peoples lives. Save peoples lives. Yes, professor wi said save peoples lives. Yes, professor witty said doctors save peoples lives. Yes, professor witty said doctors are save peoples lives. Yes, professor witty said doctors are learning i save peoples lives. Yes, professor witty said doctors are learning all i witty said doctors are learning all the time. This is a new virus, it has only been round for a year and doctors didnt know what to expect in that first wave. Now, we are in the second wave, they have learned how better to treat payment. We have had trial, treat people. We have had trials, there is one a cheap steroid treatment, it has been found to reduce mortality in sick patients who end up in intensive care, doctors have learned that the importance of giving oxygen therapy, rather than placing lots of patients on ventilators, that was the emphasis in the first wave, to get patients on general wards to give them oxygen therapy, and that helps them oxygen therapy, and that helps them to recover. Doctors have also learned about the serious complications of covid for patients in hospital, the inflammation in the body, the kidney problem, so doctors are on hand to help treat that, help tackle that and identify that when theyis tackle that and identify that when they is happening at an early stage, that has improved the survival rate as you mentioned. That has improved the survival rate as you mentioned. Thank you so much, nick, aiain as you mentioned. Thank you so much, nick. Again for as you mentioned. Thank you so much, nick, again for your as you mentioned. Thank you so much, nick, again for your analysis. As you mentioned. Thank you so much, nick, again for your analysis. Nick i nick, againforyouranalysis. Nick triggle, Health Correspondent. As we been hearing in the last error, the number of people who have died from covid 19 in the uk has now passed 100,000 asthma in the last hour. Over 30,000 of those where care home residents in england and wales. At todays briefing the Prime Minister began by offering his condolences to everyone who has lost loved one. Sigh andi sigh and i am sorry to have to tell you that today the number of deaths recorded from covid in the uk has passed 100,000. Recorded from covid in the uk has passed 100,000. Recorded from covid in the uk has passed 100,000. I am sorry. It is hard to compute passed 100,000. I am sorry. It is hard to compute the passed 100,000. I am sorry. It is hard to compute the sorrow passed 100,000. I am sorry. It is hard to compute the sorrow in i passed 100,000. I am sorry. It is hard to compute the sorrow in that l hard to compute the sorrow in that grim hard to compute the sorrow in that grim statistic. The years of life lost, grim statistic. The years of life lost, the grim statistic. The years of life lost, the Family Gathering not attended, and for so many relatives the missed attended, and for so many relatives the missed chance even to say goodbya the missed chance even to say goodbye. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. Fathers and mothers, brothers a loved one. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and the many grandparents who have daughters, and the many grandparents who have been taken. And. Who have been taken. And. To who have been taken. And, to all those who grieve, we make and, to all those who grieve, we make this and, to all those who grieve, we make this pledge that when we have come make this pledge that when we have come through this crisis we will come come through this crisis we will come together as a nation to remember everyone we lost and to honour remember everyone we lost and to honour the remember everyone we lost and to honour the selfless heroism of all those honour the selfless heroism of all those on honour the selfless heroism of all those on the front line who gave their those on the front line who gave their lives those on the front line who gave their lives to save others. We will remember their lives to save others. We will remember the courage of countless working remember the courage of countless working people, notjust our amazing nhs and working people, notjust our amazing nhs and care workers, but shop workers. Nhs and care workers, but shop workers, transport staff, pharmacists, teachers, police, armed forces, pharmacists, teachers, police, armed forces, Emergency Services and many others forces, Emergency Services and many others who forces, Emergency Services and many others who kept our country going during others who kept our country going during our others who kept our country going during our biggest crisis since the second during our biggest crisis since the second world war. That was the Prime Minister there, and just to safer theories in the uk there is a special programme this evening about some of the people who have died from coronavirus and just to say to viewers in the uk. It is in panorama 100,000. On bbc one and iplayer this evening. Christina pagel is a a professor of Operational Research at University College london and a member of the independent sage group of scientists scrutinising the governments handling of covid. Thank you so much for being with us, and while it is such a grim milestone we have been reflecting on in the last couple of errors, 100,000 deaths, and we were talking to a guest earlier who said it is something more like 120,000, but what are your thoughts as we think about all of those who have lost their lives . About all of those who have lost their lives . Well, i am incredibly sad about it. Their lives . Well, i am incredibly sad about it. You their lives . Well, i am incredibly sad about it. You know, their lives . Well, i am incredibly sad about it. You know, given i their lives . Well, i am incredibly| sad about it. You know, given the case numbers that we had three are four weeks ago, which is when the people who, you know, we knew this was coming, and we had. We have had high case numbers since the end of september, beginning of october. They went up, down, shut up over christmas, and unfortunately we have seen a worst second wave than we have a first wave. But im also angry because it wasnt necessary. We didnt have to be here. We didnt have to be here. Didnt have to be we didnt have to be here. Didnt have to be your we didnt have to be here. Didnt have to be your wife . We didnt have to be here. Didnt have to be your wife . Just we didnt have to be here. Didnt have to be your wife . Just talk i have to be your wife . Just talk about the reasons they are, because about the reasons they are, because a lot of people point to didnt have to be there why . People speak about the fact we are an International Travel hub, meaning our death rate has been higher than other countries. Are you saying it is much more than that . It is political or lack political decisions, a lack of political decisions . Decisions, a lack of political decisions . ,. ,. , decisions . City liddells are all factors but decisions . City liddells are all factors but they decisions . City liddells are all factors but they are decisions . City liddells are all| factors but they are something decisions . City liddells are all factors but they are something we can do something about. We have seen countries with stronger quarantine laws at the borders have been able to keep cases out yes, certainly they are all factors. We know that with test and trace it never worked as well as it could. Dido harding who runs test address gave evidence yesterday said the biggest weakling is because people cant isolate and they cant isolate because they cant afford to isolate. We could have done something about that months ago. We are still having people who cant stay at home when they have symptoms of covid because they have symptoms of covid because they literally cannot afford to. You know, we have locked down weeks after sage advised we should. We had the press conference on the 18th of december saying there is a new variant and it looked like it was a lot more infectious and we waited almost three weeks to lock down. In those three weeks cases doubled. We have had an extra 100,000 people in hospital, an extra 20,000 deaths. At every stage there are things we could have done and could still be doing, and we havent. fiur could have done and could still be doing, and we havent. Doing, and we havent. Our death rate, doing, and we havent. Our death rate. When doing, and we havent. Our death rate. When we doing, and we havent. Our death rate, when we compare doing, and we havent. Our death rate, when we compare it doing, and we havent. Our death rate, when we compare it to doing, and we havent. Our death| rate, when we compare it to other similar nations in europe, it is far higher. One of the highest death rates on the planet, in fact. Irate higher. One of the highest death rates on the planet, in fact. We are behind some rates on the planet, in fact. We are behind some of rates on the planet, in fact. We are behind some of the rates on the planet, in fact. We are behind some of the really rates on the planet, in fact. We are behind some of the really small behind some of the really small countries but out of countries with more than 10 Million People we are the highest, yeah. It is not something. Obviously no one is proud of it, but it is a tragedy. The Prime Minister said he promises to learn from it. Well, you cant just promise. We owe it to everybody who has died, everybody who has been sick, to learn from it. Ijust wish the government had learned from it over the last eight months as well. But would you give the Government Credit for, for example, the vaccine roll out, which does seem to be going very well and better arguably than other countries, almost 7 Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, i would, Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, i would. Yeah Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, iwould. Yeah i Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, iwould, yeah. Ithink Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, i would, yeah. I think the Million People now vaccinated . Yeah, i would, yeah. I think the vaccine i would, yeah. I think the Vaccine Programme is going very well, and im not going to say anything bad about it. Its fantastic that we have vaccinated nearly 10 of our population. Have vaccinated nearly 1096 of our imputation have vaccinated nearly 1096 of our oulation. ,. ,. ,. , population. Just looking ahead, what needs to be done population. Just looking ahead, what needs to be done at population. Just looking ahead, what needs to be done at now, population. Just looking ahead, what needs to be done at now, would population. Just looking ahead, what needs to be done at now, would you | needs to be done at now, would you say, that isnt being done . Itruiellll. Needs to be done at now, would you say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waitin say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waiting to say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waiting to see say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waiting to see what say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waiting to see what the say, that isnt being done . Well, we are waiting to see what the new are waiting to see what the new quarantine rules are, but i do think we need to have managed isolation now from across the world. Just as we are vaccinating the whole population. If you have a high case rate anyway and you are vaccinating a lot of people, youre actually providing opportunities for the virus to retake in a way that will evade the vaccine so we need to get cases down really low here, which we are doing and that is good, though we still have a long way to go. Then we still have a long way to go. Then we need to stop new variants coming in. We need to protect everybody as quickly as we can, and that means not letting the new variants, which we know are there, you know, we know they are there in south africa and brazil, we know that, wejust havent spotted them all yet. I are out of time but thank you so much for being with us on bbc news. We are out of time. There is a new special revealing what happened on the ground and what was reported in china. A warning, this report contains distressing images. New years eve 2019. A man in his 70 plumbing hit by a mysterious pneumonia like disease but the world are still blissfully unaware of the virus about to change all of our lives. Preparing to bring in the new year. New years eve 2019. By now, its been 30 days since a chinese man in his 70s was hit by a mysterious pneumonia like disease, but the world is still blissfully unaware of the virus thats about to change all of our lives. Preparing to ring in the new year, an american virologist takes a call from this man, george gao, director of chinas centre for disease control. Hed identified the virus. It was a new coronavirus. And that it was not highly transmissible. Well, this didnt really resonate with me, because id heard about many, many people who had been infected. The World Health Organization in geneva should have been officially informed about the new disease, but it first learned about it from social media. At internal meetings, who officials made their frustration plain. The Associated Press shared with pbs frontline and the bbc some leaked recordings from the second week of january. Back in wuhan, hospitals were filling up and Health Workers were becoming ever more alarmed. Theyre not allowed to talk to the International Media without authorisation, but one has spoken anonymously to the bbc. Their words are voiced by an actor. One patient in hospital in late january was 76 year old zhang lifa. His son had driven across china, so that he could have an operation in his home town, after hed broken his leg in the fall. As he was recovering from surgery, he got a fever. The Chinese Government has told us that it has always acted with transparency and in a timely fashion. But it wasnt until seven weeks after the first known patient got sick that it announced there was, indeed, human to human transmission and by then, covid i9 had a deadly momentum that would carry it into every corner of the globe. It has now killed more than 2 Million People. Caroline hawley, bbc news. Sophie raworth will be here with the news at six in a couple of minutes. Now its time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. Hello there. The weather is turning milder from the south west today, but as it pushes in with a lot of rain bearing clouds, this no turning back to reigr over this no turning back to reign over the pennines. It is really north of the central belt we are likely to see the heaviest snow over the high ground snow turning back to rain. We see this working across wales and southern counties of england and for most a lot of low cloud around. Some mist and hill fog pretty extensive. But a lot milder thanit pretty extensive. But a lot milder than it has been for a number of nights. From two to as much as eight or nine across the southwest. A bad start to the day on wednesday. Most parts of the country, i suspectjust quite grey and cloudy, with mist and hill fog patches. Best of the sunshine in northern scotland and there are likely to be a few wintry showers coming and going from time to time. Later in the afternoon, more rain pushing back into the south of wales and also across parts of south west england. Very mild and temperatures ten or ii of south west england. Very mild and temperatures ten or 11 across the south. Wednesday night into thursday, this battle zone set up across the uk. Mild to the south of this front, cold air across the north east. Heavy rain and flooding across the north west but at Higher Elevations these could be affected by heavy snow. Thes� 62 across the pennines, the a57 snake pass, and thes� 7a in scotland. No chance of any snow at all in cardiff and london the m62 across the pennines. Still cold in the north of scotland with temperatures about four. It is likely to be high ground in scotland and northern england. 50 in scotland and northern england. 50 in scotland and northern england. 50 1530 in scotland and northern england. 50 1530 as in scotland and northern england. 50 15 30 as possible. Then this high front tools in. Colder air filtering further south which across scotland and into the Northern Edge of the system. We will probably see the rain turned to snow particularly over high ground but it wouldnt be too surprising to see a few flakes at lower levels just as the system starts to pull away. Colderfurther north. Into the weekend, the threat of a bit more hill snow. More than 100,000 people have now died from coronavirus in the uk since march. These are human beings, these are people with families. They have lives. Theyre notjust numbers. Im left now with a young family who have got no dad. That was the last time i saw her. And she was so beautiful, she was so pretty. A candle for every life as the Prime Minister offers his condolences. I take full responsibility for everything the government has done. Its almost a year since the first patients were treated in hospital in britian. Hospital is under intense pressure. The uks Unemployment Rate rises to its highest rate in more than four years. Covid vaccines the way out, almost 7 Million People have had the jab but a row errupts in the eu over supplies. And coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news